Sony Pictures Animation Goes Hunting

Sony Pictures Animation has purchased a treatment from In the Bleachers creator and cartoonist Steve Moore and producer John Carls. Tentatively titled Open Season, the story will focus on animals who turn the tables on unsuspecting hunters.

"I love imagining life from the animals’ point of view — especially animals who are hunted,” says Moore. “It’s a great way to have some twisted fun at the expense of humans."

In developing the project, Moore and Carls will work closely with Sony Pictures Animation exec. VPs Penney Finkelman Cox and Sandra Rabins, as well as creative VP Nate Hopper. Carls is currently in development on the feature films The Light Princess with Gore Verbinksi attached to direct, Flat Stanley at Working Title Films and a film adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are with Tom Hanks.

Moore and Carls have also sold the feature treatment City Sewer to DreamWorks and are working with Disney TV Animation on 15-second animated shorts based on In the Bleachers to air on ESPN.

Formed in May of last year, Sony Pictures Animation has produced the theatrical CG short The ChubbChubbs, but has yet to release a feature film. There is no word as to whether or not Open Season will be the first.